“…e.g., Lynch, 1990;Winn, 1989), (2) make abstract concepts more concrete by mapping them onto spatial layouts with familiar interpretational conventions (e.g., Winn, 1989), and (3) substitute easier perceptual inferences for more computationally intensive search processes and sentential deductive inferences (Barwise & Etchemendy, 1991;Larkin & Simon, 1987). A number of studies provide empirical support for the benefits of using spatial diagram representations for learning and problem solving on specific tasks (e.g., Bartram, 1980;Carroll, Thomas, & Malhotra, 1980;Day, 1988;GuriRozenblit, 1988;McGuinness, 1986;Novick & Hmelo, 1994;S. H. Schwartz, 1971).…”